IBM scientists have developed a new approach to simulate molecules on a quantum computer that may one day help revolutionize chemistry and materials science. The scientists successfully used six qubits on a purpose-built seven-qubit quantum processor to address the molecular structure problem for beryllium hydride (BeH2) – the largest molecule simulated on a quantum computer to date. The results demonstrate a path of exploration for near-term quantum systems to enhance our understanding of complex chemical reactions that could lead to practical applications. (Credit: Credit: Kandala et al.; Nature)

MIT President, Dr. L Rafael Reif (on left) and IBM Senior Vice President, Cognitive Solutions and Research, Dr. John Kelly III (on right), reach a 10-year, $240 million agreement to establish the MIT and IBM Watson AI Lab where fundamental joint research in AI hardware and software will be conducted to propel scientific breakthroughs that will unlock the potential of AI in industries, such as healthcare and cybersecurity. (Credit: IBM)